Federal Register Summary for week of 4 January

Agriculture

Handling of Animals; Contingency Plans

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: We are amending the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add
requirements for contingency planning and training of personnel by
research facilities and by dealers, exhibitors, intermediate handlers,
and carriers. We are taking this action because we believe all
licensees and registrants should develop a contingency plan for all
animals regulated under the Animal Welfare Act in an effort to better
prepare for potential disasters. This action will heighten the
awareness of licensees and registrants regarding their responsibilities
and help ensure a timely and appropriate response should an emergency
or disaster occur.

Commerce

National Medal of Technology and Innovation Call for 2013 Nominations

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (United States Patent and Trademark
Office) is accepting nominations for the National Medal of Technology
and Innovation (NMTI). Since establishment by Congress in the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, the President of
the United States has awarded the annual NMTI (initially known as the
National Medal of Technology) to our nation's leading innovators. Those
wishing to nominate a candidate who has made an outstanding, lasting
contribution to the economy may obtain a nomination form from: http://go.usa.gov/1dU.

ADDRESSES: The NMTI nomination form for the year 2013 may be obtained
by visiting the USPTO Web site at http://go.usa.gov/1dU. Nomination
applications should be submitted to John Palafoutas, Program Manager,
National Medal of Technology and Innovation Program, by electronic mail
to: NMTI@uspto.gov or by mail to: John Palafoutas, NMTI Program
Manager, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450.

DATES: The deadline for submission of a nomination is April 1, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Palafoutas, Program Manager,
National Medal of Technology and Innovation Program, United States
Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314;
telephone (571) 272-9821 or by electronic mail: nmti@uspto.gov.

Executive Office of the President

Memorandum of December 21, 2012--Federal Employee Pay Schedules and Rates That Are Set by Administrative Discretion

Executive Order 13635--Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay

Memorandum of December 21, 2012

Federal Employee Pay Schedules and Rates That Are Set by Administrative Discretion

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

On December 22, 2010, I issued a memorandum stating
that the heads of executive departments and agencies
should suspend any increases to any pay systems or pay
schedules covering executive branch employees, and
should forgo any general increases in covered
employees' rates of pay, that could otherwise take
effect as a result of the exercise of administrative
discretion during the period beginning on January 1,
2011, and ending on December 31, 2012. In light of
section 114 of the Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2013 (Public Law 112-175), I am hereby
instructing the heads of executive departments and
agencies that they should continue to adhere to this
policy through March 27, 2013, the date after which
statutory pay adjustments may be made pursuant to
section 114 of Public Law 112-175.

This memorandum shall be carried out to the extent
permitted by law and consistent with executive
departments' and agencies' legal authorities. This
memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management
shall issue any necessary guidance on implementing this
memorandum, and is also hereby authorized and directed
to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

Health and Human Services

Advisory Committees; Tentative Schedule of Meetings for 2013

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a
tentative schedule of forthcoming meetings of its public advisory
committees for 2013. During 1991, at the request of the Commissioner of
Food and Drugs (the Commissioner), the Institute of Medicine (the IOM)
conducted a study of the use of FDA's advisory committees. In its final
report, one of the IOM's recommendations was for the Agency to publish
an annual tentative schedule of its meetings in the Federal Register.
This publication implements the IOM's recommendation.